Patterson Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Vikings rookie WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week for his Week 8 performance against the Green Bay Packers. Patterson set an NFL record with the longest kick return in league history taking the opening kick of the game 109 yards for a TD. Patterson becomes the 1st Vikings rookie return man to win the award since Percy Harvin did so in 2009.

Against Green Bay, Patterson’s 228 kick return yards rank 2nd in single game totals in the NFL this season and his 45.6 yards per return average ranks 3rd, behind his own performance against Chicago (49.7) and Devin Hester (49.8, vs. Min. 9/15). Along with his 109-yard return, Patterson also had returns of 51 and 30 yards in Week 8. The Tennessee product is the only player in the NFL to return 2 kicks for a TD this season, which ties a team record (Percy Harvin, 2009).

For the season, Patterson leads the league with 703 kick return yards, 39.1 yard kick return average and 2 kick return TDs. In 7 career games, Patterson has tied an NFL record for career plays over 105 yards with 2 (Jacoby Jones, Ed Reed).